Junior Aquila 2013 - 2014 by Pipers Corner School

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AQUILA

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We love Forest School

Contents 03 Message from the Headmistress 04 Pre-Prep Department 07 Reception 10 Year 1 13 Year 2 16 Prep Department 17 Notes from the Prep Captains 18 Year 3 21 Year 4 24 Year 5 27 Year 6

Message from the Headmistress I am delighted to be writing the introduction to the inaugural edition of “Junior Aquila”. Within these pages you will see work from our youngest girls at Pipers - a celebration of everything they have achieved over the course of the academic year. Our annual school magazine “Aquila” took a new direction this year, transforming into a vehicle for our older girls to share opinion-based articles on subjects of their own choice. Not wanting our younger girls to miss out on seeing their work in print we decided to publish this sister publication, “Junior Aquila”, alongside the Senior edition. Producing a school magazine is never an easy task and choosing what content to include, when there is so much to choose from, can be difficult. However we hope that in the vibrant and colourful pages that follow you will gain a sense of day-to-day life at Pipers Corner and the wide range of topics the girls cover throughout the curriculum. Artwork, poetry, creative writing and photographs all come together to create a snapshot of the year enjoyed by girls in Reception to Year 6.

I am incredibly proud of all the girls in Pre-Prep and Prep and the effort they have demonstrated this year. It is a pleasure for me, as Headmistress, to walk round the school and drop into classrooms to see what the girls are doing. It is even more of a delight to listen to the girls as they explain a piece of work, or tell me about a recent trip they have enjoyed. I hope that this publication will serve to convey those feelings to you too as you read about trips to Windsor Castle, Verulamium Museum and Sulgrave Manor, and see artwork inspired by the work of Monet, marvel at the girls’ own version of the Bayeaux Tapestry and read stories inspired by environment week. Above all this magazine demonstrates what being a Pipers’ girl is all about – having a true love of learning. It is our aim that as the girls move through the school they will take this love of learning with them and go on to achieve great things. Happy reading! Helen Ness-Gifford Headmistress

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pre-prep

Pre-Prep Message from Head of Pre-Prep, Mrs Rushforth Another year draws to a close and this summer we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Department. We remembered with fond memories how Pre-Prep has grown and developed since it first opened its doors in the summer of 1994 with one pupil, two classrooms and two members of staff. Today in an ever changing world, we embrace the nurturing and yet progressive education that has continued over the years and which is the beginning of the children’s school journey. Over the past year Pre-Prep, have once again lived life to the full and participated in a wide variety of lessons, activities, trips and performances. These have included the girls winning a gold

medal at the Marlow Festival; an all-inclusive nativity, a Dance and Drama presentation, musical concerts demonstrating talents in singing, as well as playing the piano, violin and cello, swimming galas and sports events. We celebrated the baptism of HRH Prince George with a memorable afternoon as we re-enacted the ceremony with Year 2 pupils playing the principle characters. We have added a willow tunnel in the garden, providing us with a fantastic place to run through and play. We once again enthusiastically participated in the traditional annual event of International Day. Together we have played hard, worked hard and had a tremendous amount of fun. We are so proud of all the girls’ many and varied achievements, personally, socially and academically in all areas of the curriculum. Their accomplishments are a credit to their

determination and desire to succeed. I know you will enjoy looking at some examples of the children’s work and numerous activities in this magazine, which I hope will give you a glimpse of another memorable year in the lives of these young girls.

Happy Birthday Pre-Prep

Pre-Prep celebrated a very special anniversary in June, marking 20 years since the Department first opened its doors in the summer of 1994 - with one pupil, two classrooms and two members of staff. 20 years on and the Department is thriving with three classes (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) and a team of dedicated staff helping to guide girls through their early years of school.

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

For the celebrations the Department held a special tea party that brought together past and present parents, staff and girls. With a wonderful cake, balloons and a children’s entertainer, everyone got into the party spirit and had a wonderful time. To commemorate the occasion all the current Pre-Prep girls were presented with an engraved silver bookmark as a keepsake to remind them of their time at school.

Headmistress, Mrs Ness-Gifford said, “It was a wonderful afternoon celebrating a very important milestone in the history of Pipers Corner School. It has been a pleasure to see the Pre-Prep Department grow into what it is today and I look forward to seeing it continue to develop into the future.”

pre-prep

Celebrating Easter To celebrate Easter all girls came to school in their homemade Easter bonnets. There were various activities available to the girls including making bunny masks and joining in with the PPTA Easter Egg Hunt.

Reception

The Look Out

Year 1

Year 2

In the Summer Term Pre-Prep went to the Lookout Discovery Centre to discover everything about “Bugs and Beasties”. The girls listened to a talk about insects, their habitats, food chains and what they looked like. They then went outside to “bug hunt” with a sweep net and insect pot. All girls were fascinated by the number and variety of insects they found. The girls then were able to go inside the Discovery Centre to look at the different exhibits and find out more about the living world.

Pre-Prep celebrated Christmas with their own Nativity performance of “Shine, Star, Shine” for parents and guests.

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pre-prep

International Day For special occasions the whole Department come together to celebrate something special. One of these occasions was in the Summer Term for International Day. The girls all dressed up in an outﬁt representing their favourite country, spanning from Scotland to Australia and everywhere in between. They also had the opportunity to try different foods from around the world. One of the activities the girls really enjoyed was making their own Dalecarlian horse which is traditional carved wooden horse from Sweden. In the past the Dala horse was mainly a toy for children but today is seen as a symbol of Sweden. The horse has distinguishing features such as being bright red and painted with details white, green, yellow and blue.

Reception

Creating the willow tunnel During the Summer Term Gardening Club co-ordinator Mrs Martin-Löf and girls from Pre-Prep helped to create what is now a fantastic addition to the Pre-Prep playground – the willow tunnel. Making this tunnel took a few days and lots of pieces of willow tree. The girls enjoyed helping to put the tunnel together and now are enjoying running through it during their break times.

Year 1

Year 2

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reception

Reception

A Trip to Tiggywinkles In the Spring Term girls in Reception had the opportunity to go to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham. The girls had a tour of the centre where they learnt about the history of Tiggywinkles and watched a presentation about all the animals that the centre has successfully treated. They were very excited when they got the opportunity to handle an antler from a deer who had been recently treated at the hospital. The girls didn’t come home empty handed, Headmistress, Mrs Ness-Gifford, bought a hedgehog house for them to put in Forest School to encourage hedgehogs to visit.

Message from Reception Teacher, Mrs Child It’s hard to believe that the little girls who started in Reception are now about to move into Year 1. I am extremely proud of all the girls, they have worked very hard this year and have developed their own individual strengths across the curriculum. We have wonderful memories to share of our year together. The touch screen television which was described by one of the girls in the first couple of days as our “giant iPad” has been a great success along with the outside play area attached to the classroom allowing the girls freeflow in the afternoon. We shared a really enjoyable visit to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Centre with Mrs Ness-Gifford. The laughter that rang through Pre-Prep when the baby chicks had free rein to run all over the tables in the classroom with the inevitable mess they left as their calling card, complimented the excitement of the chicks hatching. In Mathematics the girls learnt the basics of fractions through cutting up a hot cross bun. I am sure if you asked which experiment they preferred in their Understanding the World lessons, they would say melting chocolate buttons (there seems to be a touch of a food theme here!). They are a lovely group of girls and they always manage to make me smile. I look forward to seeing them develop even more as they move up into Year 1 in September.

Girls in Reception created a poster for Tiggywinkles which now hangs in the hospital reception

Ria P

Caitlin V

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Hatching chicks The hatching of the chicks is one of the highlights of the Pre-Prep calendar. Every year the girls in Reception get up close and personal with the little chicks and this year was no different. The girls were able to watch the chicks force their way out of the eggs and into the world, which they found most exciting to see. They then saw how the chicks developed within a week, watched them grow, learn to walk and become very noisy. The girls were then able to measure and weigh the chicks as part of their mathematics lessons.

Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day For Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day girls had great fun using hands to create beautiful pieces of art work for their mothers.

JUNIOR AQUILA 2013 - 2014

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Founder’s Day Reception girls, along with the whole school celebrated Founder’s Day in September. The theme for this year was 1950s and all girls came to school dressed head to toe in 1950s clothes.

Florence W

Eleanor L

Maya V

Sarah T

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Year 1

Paper testing Girls discovered what happened to different types of paper, such as card, tissue and kitchen roll, while wrapping presents and writing on them.

Message from Year 1 Teacher, Mrs Rushforth The past year has flown by so quickly and it hardly seems five minutes ago that the girls moved up from Reception and adjusted so quickly to the routines of Year 1. Their enthusiasm has been boundless and contagious as they have relished and participated in numerous learning opportunities including, food tasting, paper testing, growing seeds, and endless hours of enjoyment in various role-play situations. They have visited a mosque, a church, Windsor Castle and the Look Out Discovery Centre. They have raised money for St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School, in Uganda, by selling books at 10p each (in order to practise counting in tens) and thoroughly enjoyed having Barnaby Bear to stay. The girls have particularly enjoyed the weekly spelling test, practical Mathematics, funny poetry and the introduction to joined up writing. It has been a pleasure to teach this enthusiastic cohort of girls. They have developed their individual personalities, risen to academic challenges and I know they will continue to flourish in Year 2. I will continue to watch their progress and I am sure they will embrace their responsibilities as the oldest girls in the Department whole heartedly.

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Frankie S

Lauren N

Isabella B Lauren K

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Windsor Castle Year 1 had a very exciting trip to Windsor Castle this year. They went to St George’s Chapel where the girls were able to look at the beautiful windows and ceiling, followed by the various tombstones which included the Queen’s parents and Henry VIII. The girls then made their way outside to the sound of drums as the changing of the guards began, they were fascinated to see the guards marching and standing very still. The girls also looked round the state apartments where they had a talk about the Royal Household during the reign of Queen Victoria and they where able to dress up as the girls became Knights of the Garter. Head of Pre-Prep, Mrs Rushforth said, “The girls had a really wonderful day walking round the Castle. Being able to see personal items and rooms where generations of the Royal family have stayed has really helped them understand the history.”

The Magic Box Millie W

Olivia D

Year 1 read the poem, “The Magic Box” by Kit Wright and then shared their feelings about it. They then put two of their own memories into their own “magic box”. The girls thought about how to turn their memories into sentences and worked together to make the following description of their box: Our box is fashioned from rainbows, and hearts and stardust. With grass, flowers and sunlight on the lid. And helicopters, stars and wool in the corners. In the hinges are the bodies of care bears. I shall fly through my box, in and out of my friend’s memories, Collecting lollypops, love and kisses.

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Art This year the girls have been looking at work by impressionist painters including Monet and Matisse and comparing them. They then created a piece of artwork of their own in the same style.

The girls were also inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and produced a beautiful piece of art work which reflects his famous painting of the sunflowers. Celebrating Founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in September.

Tessa H

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Year 2

Art – Impressionist paintings Lily R

Lottie T

Message from Year 2 Teacher, Mrs Clare It has been a very enjoyable and productive year for Year 2 and a privilege to watch them develop into to girls ready, willing and able to make the transition to the Prep Department. There have been many highlights but perhaps one of the most significant was dressing up as the principle characters in our re-enactment of the baptism of HRH Prince George in the Chapel. We were very excited to receive a letter from St James’ Palace in response to the book of the event we sent to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Other highlights include our Grandparents Tea Party, being the stars in the Pre-Prep Christmas production “Shine Star, Shine”, visits to Watford Synagogue and Windsor Castle and our own re-enactment of fighting the Fire of London which resulted in both the girls and the playhouse getting rather wet! It has been great to see the girls make the most of their opportunities and to witness their zest for life and enthusiasm for learning. I shall miss them very much but am sure they will continue to impress and please their new teachers as they have me.

Rosie K

Celebrating Founder’s Day in September.

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The Battle of Hastings The girls explored the Battle of Hastings and learnt about how and why this battle occured through the discovery of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Royal crown is given to Harold (Madeleine N)

Williamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ships are dragged to the sea (Lottie T)

Duke William crosses the sea in a big ship (Mai-li L)

A banquet is held in Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honour (Isabel S)

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The ships land at Pevensy (Thea G)

The Normans advance in battle array (Grace C)

The Saxon army is pushed back (Freya V)

A cart loaded with wine and weapons is pulled to the ships (Lily R)

They go to do battle against King Harold (Rosie K)

King Harold is killed and the Saxons are defeated (Olivia J)

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Nocturnal Animals To understand the different habitats of nocturnal animals Year 2 chose an animal of their choice and researched how they live and how they differ to other species. First they had to find out what “nocturnal” meant and then what adaptations these animals make in their lives in order to survive. They also drew a picture of their animal to accompany their writing.

An acrostic poem about spring Girls had to think creatively about how they would describe spring and write a poem using descriptive and interesting vocabulary.

Freya V

Madeleine N

Isobel S

A Star A star is a rabbit bouncing through the night. It’s a sparkly diamond shining in the light. A star is a silver flower shimmering in the sun. It’s an icy snowball giving children lots of fun. A star is a hard tooth wobbling in your mouth. It’s a snow white penguin living in the south. A star is a shimmering diamond shining like glass. It’s a tiny daisy swaying in the grass.

Grace C

A star is a raindrop falling from the sky. It’s a white dove flying nearby. Poem by Year 2 PIPERS CORNER SCHOOL

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Prep Message from Head of Prep, Mr Leith “Time passes quickly when you are having fun” or so the saying goes and this year just seems to have flown by in the Prep Department. With a focus on kinaesthetic learning, it has been a delight to walk around Prep and listen outside the classrooms to the girls enjoying their learning. Learning by “doing” has been a theme this year as the girls dance their times tables in Mathematics, role play in English and plan their own experiments in Science.

This year, Year 6 Subject Leaders have been particularly active and visitors to the Prep Department are always impressed to see them running clubs and sometimes even leading lessons, as they promote their subjects. Recently, they have gone one step further and spent an afternoon doing “work experience” in the Senior School observing lessons and shadowing the senior staff. Having the opportunity to see how their subject is taught across the different age ranges, gives the girls a new perspective on their chosen subject and they return to the Prep Department with even greater zeal.

Watching the girls taking responsibility for their learning has been a wonderful revelation as the girls have worked with their Tutors and parents to produce outstanding learning logs that build on and explain the learning journey in such a way that the girls can really demonstrate and apply their learning.

Learning is never restricted to the classroom and it is always a pleasure to welcome guest speakers to the Prep Department. In the last few months the girls have applauded former code breakers at Bletchley Park, Pipers Alumnae who have conquered Everest, award winning environmentalists and Google

Environment week This term saw the entire Prep Department take part in a week long initiative learning about the environment. Lessons during the week had an environmental agenda where the girls learnt about renewable energy, eco-housing, road and rail networks and their impact on the environment and how oil is extracted. Activities included, presentations from environmental lawyers, Forest School and a visit from the Eden Project, where the girls had to imagine they had crash landed on Earth and had to make sure they were able to survive using only what they found around them.

technology experts. The girls hang on their every word and always ask wise and pertinent questions. The hectic pace continued right to the end of term with a thought provoking Environment Week. The Prep Captain rose to an “Alan Sugar” style business challenge by launching a spectacular Pop Up Italian Restaurant raising money for the British Red Cross and finally, the girls showcased their performing talents with a blockbuster performance of Bugsy Malone to standing ovations. So much creativity, innovation and learning all squeezed into one academic year. We can’t wait for the next one to start!

Positions of Responsibility 2013/14 Prep Captain Vice Captain Pre-Prep Manager Sports Captain Charity Rep Playground Friends Assembly Captains

Form Captains Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

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6JWo

Lily H Phoebe H and Kayleigh L Rowen S Daisy H Ella C Bria T and Madelaine W Callie H and Meghan J

Scarlett C and Isabelle E (Vice Captain) Elvira P and Lakshmi M (Vice Captain) Olivia J and Annique B (Vice Captain) Antonia T and Megan P (Vice Captain) Abigail M and Amelia H (Vice Captain)

Prep Council and Library Leader Katie G Deputy Leader Aimee B Council Reps Evie G, Abigail M and Libby R

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Chief Librarians Librarians

Subject Leaders Art Catering Dance/Choir Drama Drama/Choir English English/Choir Geography History Maths Maths/French RE/PSE Science

Sienna B, Maya M and Antonia T Charlotte A, Ella C, Sophie D Jodie H, Taryn M and Hollie R

Swimming

Amelia H Olivia O Charlotte C Leanne H Elizabeth F Ella L Isabella B Taryn M Megan P Ella N Grace-Mary F Evie G and Libby R Charlotte A and Sophie D Rowen S

House Captains Hampden Mandeville Milton Penn

Phoebe H Charlotte C Taryn M Daisy H

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Notes from the Prep Captains Leadership has meant a lot to me this year as I have had the position of Prep Captain. This role has included challenges, joy and has made me become more confident. As Prep Captain I represent all the girls by being kind and approachable and give thanks on their behalf. I also have my two wonderful Vice Captains, Kayleigh and Phoebe, who have assisted me along my way. In Year 6 you get more opportunities to take responsibility as Subject Leaders, Chief Librarian and many other positions within the Department. Positions of responsibility help us to develop skills to work with people and build self-confidence before moving up to the Senior School. I wish the next Prep Captain the best of luck and hope they have a successful year with the Prep Department; as this has been a lovely position to hold. Lily H (Year 6) Prep Captain

I had the role of Prep Sports Captain this year. I enjoyed my role as much as I enjoy playing all my sports. I play netball, lacrosse, rounders, tennis, athletics, judo and I swim. I am also Netball Captain. As Captain I have several jobs to do. I enjoy gathering all the Prep fixtures results each week from all the Year Sports Captains. I then read out all the fixture reviews and results in the Prep Assembly each Friday. My life is very busy playing matches, tournaments and galas and when I am not competing I have to train a lot which keeps me fit. When I am not actually playing a sport, I check all the netballs and tennis rackets as I am responsible for these. I also help with lost property and changing room tidiness. I have a positive feeling that everyone can play sport to their own level and I like to encourage girls to play sport as it is so much fun! So you can see the role of Prep Sports Captain keeps you very busy. Look at the Prep PE board for recent photos of the latest tournaments or matches. I also help with that! However, I wouldn’t change my job for the world. I dream of making my hobby my career when I am older. Daisy H (Year 6) Prep Sports Captain

Since the start of Year 6 I have had the great job of being Vice Prep Captain which I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated facing all the challenges and responsibilities of this role. Within this role I support and help the Prep Captain (Lily H) as much as possible. The position has given me a whole new experience, opening up more opportunities for me and although leadership is hard work there have been loads of skills that I have learned including teamwork, confidence and friendship. This role has also tested my organisation skills which would definitely help me in the future! Kayleigh L and I also manage the “tidy cloakroom” scheme every week which is lots of fun! An exciting event I have been part of this year has been the charity fundraiser to host the Prep Pizza Night along with the rest of the leadership team, a challenge set by the Head of Prep, Mr Leith. As it is my last year in Prep, this role has really helped me prepare for Senior School and although I will miss the Prep Department and being Vice Prep Captain, I wish the best of luck to the next Prep and Vice Captains. Phoebe H (Year 6) Vice Prep Captain

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as Vice Prep Captain this academic year. Being given this responsibility has led to many opportunities as well as helping me develop into a more confident, thoughtful and reliable person. It has been a fun challenge to take part in charity fundraising events, including the Prep Captain Challenge Pizza Night which took place in June. I have learnt many skills such as working in a team, learning how to be more organised and being punctual. I have enjoyed supporting the Prep Captain and being a good influence on the younger girls within the Department. Kayleigh L (Year 6) Vice Prep Captain

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Year 3 English – shape poems

Message From Year 3 Teacher, Mrs Emery It is hard to believe that Year 3 have almost come to the end of their busy first year in the Prep Department. Each girl has fully embraced the breadth of academic and extracurricular activities on offer and some of them have already successfully represented the school in a range of sporting events, notably swimming and cross country. The girls also dazzled their audience with their Drama, Dance and Music skills in the Prep Christmas Concert through their performance of a Hawaiian Christmas. Throughout the year, they have continued to display their talents in their class assemblies and the Young Voices concert. In their Topic lessons, the girls have enjoyed learning about ancient Egypt and, in their class assembly, were able to demonstrate how to make an Egyptian mummy to their parents. In the Spring Term, they gave advice to the rest of the Prep Department about friendship, as part of their PSHE lessons, in the form of poetry and role play.

Girls in Year 3 participated in a series of English lessons exploring shape poems and calligrams. The idea is that the choice of shape or image provides the stimulus to create a piece of poetry. Year 3 thoroughly enjoyed the activity producing some imaginative poems, demonstrating excellent use of adjectives and verbs in this poetic form.

I am a Geneva W bana n as ye a llow as ca n be and edib le and tasty I’m as soft as rubber I agr ee. A and as green as grass I’m lso prett so juicy and great squeezed Sophie C y an into a glass. But when I’m bend d as y as can b not so fresh I can be a as a e. I a star. ma disaster, so make me I am a ban s shiny into a pie and I’ll be ana I wen t SPL and just fine. AT

Girls created wire insect hangings from observing insects in Forest School and learning about the Egyptians, which was used as inspiration for the pattern on the insects.

In Science, the girls have investigated how well they look after their teeth and enjoyed using disclosing tablets to test the effectiveness of their dental care. In their study of light and shadow, they made their own shadow puppets and used these to perform a short play to the rest of the class. They have made their own compasses to navigate their way around the world and used their mathematical skills to search for hidden treasures. The girls have already taken leadership roles within the class and I know they will look after the new girls entering Year 3 in September.

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

Nicole W

Olivia P

Victoria H

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Greek art Year 3 have been learning about decorative patterns in Ancient Greek art. They used what they have learnt in class to create their own Greek vase designs.

Matilda F

Sophie H

Imogen H Elsa H Isabelle E

In January it was my birthday and I was extremley excited and I went downstairs and made everyone come up to my mum and dad’s room so I could open my pressies. Then we all sat down and I opened the biggest one first. I was so happy when I saw it. I opened it. Inside there was a box, I opened the box. I looked around the box, there was nothing.

The Empty Box A piece of creative writing.

When I looked up, my mum said “you look disappointed Carys, why?” Then I said, “The... There’s nothing there!” Then i ran off to phone Gran and she said she was sorry. Then I shouted down the phone “SORRY IS NOT ENOUGH SOMETIMES!!!!” Then I started the cry. That day was not fun! Carys V

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Design and Technology - where the challenge begins

From the word go the Prep girls at Pipers are thrown into the exciting world of Design and Technology - the mystical place where creative ideas are realised either into fully working products or concepts to be taken further still. From Year 3 the girls are encouraged to gain confidence in their own creative and technical abilities through a combination of problem solving and design, working in computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and gaining valuable experience in the workshop environment. 2014 has brought many different opportunities and Year 3 have undertaken packaging design and researched the concept of balance and how it can be used in toys through the manufacture (their first trip into the workshop!) of balancing birds of their own design.

The World Cup

The Magic Tree

The stadium was roaring, my heart was pounding, but all I heard was my heart. I felt like I had been put to a task to find a unicorn. I started to run but I felt like I was going in slow motion but I was sprinting. Suddenly I slipped, my foot hit the ball, I thought that I had lost...But “It’s a goal”. I had won! They lifted me up. I couldn’t hear anything apart from me shouting “we did it!” I was holding the cup in my joy for us to the world champions for four years, I had done it.

One day in my garden, I was playing with my little sister, Poppy, when I bumped my head on a tree. I fell down a hole, my head really hurt. The hole was huge and long and as I fell I could hear happy music and I could smell chocolate caramel.

Sana L

Suddenly I landed with a bump on a huge pink marshmallow! I started to eat the marshmallow, it felt like little pixies were dancing on my tongue. I realised I had landed in Sweetie Land! After many adventures, including running through a forest of sweets and bumping into a rock made of chocolate caramel, I bumped my head on a lollipop and it took me back home to my garden. When I got home, I gave some chocolate caramel to my little sister Poppy. Sophie C

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Year 4

Message from Year 4 Teacher, Mrs Summers The year has gone by so quickly and yet the girls seem to have grown so much. Most were already used to the Prep Department but we have welcomed a number of new girls too. It has been wonderful to see how well the group has taken care of the new girls, being their buddies and making sure they were in the right places at the right times. Now they are all seasoned Prep girls, demonstrating their confidence, abilities, talents and resilience. Some of the highlights of the year have been the Christmas Production when Year 4 explored the joys of Christmas in the summer sun of Australia, the Dance Production when they danced as little Lion Kings and an Evening with Young Voices when they sang a medley of songs about “Mrs Butler”. The fictional “Mrs Butler” was also the person featured in the Year 4 Drama production in the Summer Term. We have enjoyed a visit to the Verulamium Museum in St Albans where girls were able to handle genuine Roman artefacts taken from what was once a large and prosperous Roman town. In sport girls have taken part in competitions in netball, rounders, cross-country running, biathlon, swimming and athletics. I feel quite breathless when I list their range of activities! Sometimes I feel like a mountaineer at a base camp, leading my group through the next set of challenges, while they work hard and learn from experience. Soon I will pass this group on to the next Form Tutor who will guide them through the next stage. I wish them well for the rest of the climb.

Year 4 class interpretation of Van Gogh’s Starry Night

Design Technology Year 4 started the year with a mechanisms project and having ﬁrst completed some paper modelling of different types of mechanisms and ways of producing linear, rotational and reciprocating motion, they went on to design and make their own mechanical toys. Their next project was about energy. Initially researching where and how our electrical energy is produced and transported around the country, including looking at renewable energy resources. With their new found knowledge the girls then went on to design their own LED torches, considering how LEDs are so much more energy efﬁcient than other forms of lighting.

Violet B

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During Environment Week Year 4 were given the task of researching information about different trees. Martha A chose the Banyan and was fascinated by the great roots that hang down from the branches and support its great, heavy crown. She also found out that the Banyan is considered sacred by some Hindus as it is believed that the god Krishna sat amongst its branches. This is Martha’s story.

Boisterous banyan! “Where is my axe?” asked Hal’s dad. He was planning to cut down the huge, noisy Banyan tree that stood solemnly in the garden and blocked out the sunlight. Hal found the noisy Banyan tree enchanting and mysterious and he loved the tree. So he obviously didn’t want his dad to cut it down. Luckily for Hal, his dad couldn’t find the axe. That night, Hal looked out of his window and much to his surprise he saw a giant, glowing figure. Hal thought it was an optical illusion, so he went back to bed. Hal got up very early the next morning but, to his disappointment, so did his dad. When Hal went to have his breakfast his dad was searching all through the shed to find his axe Finally, he found it! Hal’s dad ran to the tree and started to chop at its trunk. But instead of the tree falling down like normal trees after they have been chopped down, it stayed perfectly straight. The roots growing

down off the branches strangled his dad and dropped him in a hole in the ground! Hal was devastated. After that, Hal went to bed but as usual he looked out of the window at the glowing figure sitting in the boughs of the tree. He thought it might be the god called Krishna, who sat in the Banyan tree. This time he jumped out of the window, ran to the tree and said a prayer to Krishna. He heard what sounded like the tree whispering to him, “Come Hal, come with me up into the land of gods and goddesses!” Hal was a bit cheesed off because this big, noisy Banyan tree had killed his father, but still he didn’t want to miss his chance to go to the land of gods and goddesses. He climbed up the tree and looked around. He had a funny feeling. He looked down at the ground. Every second he seemed to be getting higher and higher. Suddenly, he felt that sense of dread. He knew he was suspended in the air! Hal found himself in what looked like heaven with all these tall, showy people who were gods and goddesses. Hal was very uncomfortable. The gods and goddesses were ever so rude, but then he realised that he was a god too! So he could be bossy and rude as well. Now he knew how to get to the land of the gods he ordered a lesser god to get his things to create another house in this amazing land that he had discovered. Martha A

Eloise M researched the “Silver Birch” and she found out that it is sometimes considered to be a tree favoured by fairies, especially on the nights with a full moon. That is when the bark is particularly silvery. This is Eloise’s story.

The infested tree Once upon a time, a young girl, when she was little, planted a Silver Birch. Her name was Chloë and she loved the tree. She would go to the tree every day and sit in its shade and do her homework. She always wished for things. The tree gave her everything she wished for but if she made more than five wishes the tree would be infested. But she did not know what it would be infested with! As the tree grew older, one night she woke up because something was glimmering. She opened her

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

curtains and it was the tree that was glimmering. Her tree was infested with something. The next day she ran outside and sat under the tree and did her homework. Then she could hear all the leaves rustling about in the wind. It was then she remembered. She was going to look inside the biggest hole in the tree. She peered into the dark, gloomy hole and as it got lighter something flew into her face. Her tree was infested with fairies!

away to a different house. The people who moved into her old house kept the tree for a while but then they chopped it down. When Chloë heard that the tree had been chopped down she was so upset, it was like a fire inside of her. She stormed over to her old house. She had an argument with them but it was no use.

Chloë became friends with the fairies but later on in her life she moved

Eloise M

As she left the house she could hear her tree whispering, “Goodbye,” and she smiled.

yeAr 4

Studying Roman life As part of their History lessons girls in Year 4 went to The Verulamium Museum in St Albans. The museum houses artefacts found locally and were part of a large and prosperous Roman-British town. The girls handled Roman artefacts such as kitchen and bathing items. They also had the opportunity to dress up as wealthy Roman inhabitants, Celtic freemen or slaves. Other highlights was seeing the hypocaust, a mosaic floor suspended over

bricks so warm air could go underneath, they also came across the place where a slave would have sat and kept the fire burning and fanned the warm air through the ducts. This trip was a great way to reinforce the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; History lessons and gave the girls a chance to handle some genuine Roman artefacts. Roman mosaic by Alethea H

Roman mosaic by Sophie F

Food Technology This year Year 4 learnt about vegetables in their Food Technology lessons. How to chop, cook and prepare all sorts of different cooked and raw vegetables.

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yeAr 5

Year 5 Message from Year 5 Teacher, Mrs Dollery We were thrilled to have five new girls joining our Year 5 class in September who have brought plenty of energy and new ideas to the group. At Christmas we sadly said goodbye to Kimberly C, who relocated to Egypt, and after Easter, we welcomed Ella O into our class. Year 5 are an exceptionally talented group of students with great success in Sport, Drama, Music and beyond! The Year 5 Cross Country team were unbeatable at home, and the Netball Team had a number of notable wins against strong opposition. Bird Club is run from our class room and the girls actively look to support the

Christmas card competition

The annual Christmas card competition is always hotly contested. Girls in Prep are asked to design the cover in any format they choose such as a drawing, painting or even graphic design. This year the winner was Tegan D who drew a beautiful image of Father Christmas delivering presents.

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

birds during the cold winter months. In addition a number of the girls also have responsibilities as PrePrep Playground Friends, Librarians, members of Chicken Club and as Captains of Sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Teams. Individually, Allegra H made a fantastic sour dough wheat sheath for Harvest Festival which was shown to the whole school during Assembly. Olivia J sang beautifully at the Young Voices concert to all the parents. Tegan D won the school competition to design the official Pipers Corner Christmas Card, Annique B danced gracefully at the Hampden Talent Show and Zoe F and Josie T designed and helped make the signs for Gardening Club to identify key areas. Olivia S and three other girls from Pipers came second in the National County Challenge

Championships in Show Jumping and Molly B passed her Grade 2 Saxophone exam with merit, only six months after completing her Grade 1. Sophie R, Emma H and Annique B have won most improved or coaches player in either Netball, Lacrosse or Cross Country at the half yearly Prep Sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Awards. Year 5 have achieved so much already, I look forward to what the academic year 2014 - 2015 brings!

Annique B

Ella O

Isobel H

Gina M

yeAr 5

Cyanotypes Year 5 created these peices of artwork by drawing on acetate paper with a black marker pen. When completed they placed them onto sunlight paper and after two minutes of sun exposure washed them with cold water to reveal a mirror copy.

Justine J

Naomi D

Tudor self portraits Olivia J

Allegra H

Isabelle T

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yeAr 5

A trip to Sulgrave Manor

Emma H

In the Autumn Term Year 5 girls went to find out more about the Tudor way of life at Sulgrave Manor in Oxfordshire. The girls had the opportunity to dress up in Tudor clothing and learnt about the origins of some aspects of our language today. Other highlights included a tour of the manor house visiting the dining hall, the kitchen and the bed chamber, and also taking part in a play in the Great Hall. Every girl had at least one part and it was a great way to bring to life what they had been learning in the classroom. Back in school the girls took the opportunity to practise their writing skills by writing a trip report about how they felt the day went and the best bits.

There is a boat There is a boat it floats on the sea it shines in the sun so happily I watch it float on the calm ocean the birds flying round it with enthusiastic motion. Tegan D

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

Sophie R

yeAr 6

Year 6 Message from Year 6 Teacher, Mr Knight

Message from Year 6 Teacher, Mr Woodhall

When I came in to teach at Pipers it was lovely to be introduced to such an entertaining and interesting group of girls who make up my Form. They have a wonderfully wide range of skills and abilities from blogging to artistry, through to sports and music. Some of these skills have been demonstrated in the many trips and activities they have been involved in during the year including Young Voices at the O2, the Mathematics trip to Bletchley Park and all the extra-curricular events and sports matches they have been involved in. All the girls have pushed themselves to improve this year in their academic studies and have enjoyed the opportunities to work with some of the Senior School teachers outside of the Prep environment.

What a fantastic year we have had! I have really enjoyed getting to know the, initially shy, girls in 6JWo. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow, characters develop and the girls from the start of the year, become young ladies. We have enjoyed Friday jokes and funny stories in Form Time. I have loved hearing about the huge variety of academic, sporting, musical, and dramatic achievements and really enjoyed our trips to the O2 and Bletchley Park.

It is lovely to be handing over to the Senior School a group of girls who are quickly developing their independence and responsibility. I am sure that they will all thrive as they move through school and I wish them the best of luck for their bright futures.

As each girl begins an exciting new chapter moving up to the Senior School, I hope that she is able to look back on a wonderful time in the Prep Department and look forward to ever greater adventures and achievements. I am certain that lasting friendships have been made and I wish all the girls all the best as they move on.

A General’s business with a gorilla “Sir there’s someone at the door!” shouted the efficient soldier, the general slowly got up from his business and went to the door and slowly opened it. “Who is it?” he said in his natural voice. About five minutes later the general was face to face with a banana eating gorilla in a suit. The general’s study was very different to a gorilla’s natural habitat, so the general went and got some trees to put in his office. The gorilla also wanted to feel at home home so he started to move the generals furniture, he even moved the generals poisonous snake named fluffy, that the general always had with him. That night there was a terrible noise and as the general got downstairs the gorilla had gone, taking fluffy with him “nooooooooooo!” cried the general as he said goodbye to

fluffy, it was so sad, they had been separated. He was just going back upstairs when he saw a gorilla costume on the floor. He knew exactly who it was, the man from the pet shop was always nagging to have a look at fluffy who was a very rare species. The general knew what to do! He put on the gorilla costume and set off. He waited in the shadows by the pet shop until he saw the owner arriving with fluffy’s tail dangling out of a box. He jumped out of the shadows, snatched the box and made a quick escape. All the pet owner could do was stare in amazement as the general/gorilla threw a banana at his head on the way past. Katie G

The highspeed rail link I don’t think the HS2 should go ahead. The reason for this is because it will disrupt people’s houses, gardens and even villages. If they are going to go ahead with this idea, firstly it will cost an awful lot of money and secondly why do they need to do it? Why didn’t they do it before they built the houses that is might disrupt? The HS2 could knock down schools, houses and other buildings that are being used. The problem with the HS2 is that it has to go in a straight line to get it’s speed. My answer is that I would not like the HS2 to go ahead, but I still think there should be a debate on it. Rowen S

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yeAr 6

Learning about the Victorians As part of their study of the Victorians Year 6 went to Reading Museum to see what life was really like. The girls really enjoyed spending time in the Victorian School Room where they took part in an authentic Victorian school lesson. They learnt how to address the Master at registration: “Present, please, Sir”, and how to sit up straight with hands behind backs. Other highlights of the visit included learning about the different roles children would undertake if they were servants in a large house and how the invention of the steam engine changed the shape of industry from the countryside into the cities.

um Review of Reading Muse s. and included some lesson The trip was fantastic e lik t favourite and fel The first lesson was my into the Victorians! Our k bac we time travelled kind back in 2013. We teacher (sir) was very and er, copy books, slate were given blotting pap we son les s thi In . pen slate board and an ink we not talk and if we did learnt to not fidget and k bac the was ishment there were punished. For pun e. can the h a hit wit board, finger stocks or ed a lady who was very lud The second lesson inc y dressed as chief laundr knowledgeable and was do to got the class maid. Some people from a girl or boy had to do. ch whi ks tas some daily m were given an object fro After this activity we ter but group were given the Victorian times. My and the other groups w) kno paddles (we didn’t , a beer bottle and a were given a biscuit tin had to guess what they brick smoother. Then we Then the lesson was were and ask a question. over. p and I am looking This was a fantastic tri e about the Victorians. forward to learning mor Evie G

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

Year 6

Letters from the Railway Children After reading the famous childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book by E. Nesbit the girls took pen to paper and practiced their letter writing skills. The letters were from one of the children to Mr Perks, the station master.

Bria T Elizabeth F

Grace-Mary F

Daisy H

PIPERS CORNER SCHOOL

yeAr 6

Art - pastel sweets Sienna B Antonia T

Amelia H

Ella L

Design Technology Drawing, presentation and workshop skills are the key to Year 6 designing and making their own products. Learning about the properties of thermoforming polymers, how to understand the concept of quality in manufacturing and safety workshop practice. Girls also had the chance to enter the realms of 2D and 3D CAD to build and understand the importance and use of this side of Design Technology in the world of commercial design and manufacturing. Teamwork was very important this year as Year 6 created their own manufacturing companies, with the task to design and build a model bridge from Balsawood to hold the weight of a brick. As a company, they had to present their final design proposal, create a corporate identity and advertise their products in front of the class. Design and Technology has also been an enrichment activity this year for girls in Year 6 and it has proved to be very popular with the girls undertaking a wide range of projects to expand their knowledge that they have learnt in lessons. This year they have worked with copper and acrylic to create a candle holder, worked with wood and finished the year by making fully functioning rockets that launched in the school grounds.

JUnior AQUiLA 2013 - 2014

Year 6

PE Showing body shapes and tension to improve balance and strength.

Lottie C

Maya M

Ella N

Phoebe H

Pipers bedtime report As part of their English lessons this year Year 6 have been learning about the differences between creative and journalistic writing. For this project the girls created a newspaper on the theme of fairytale stories. For their articles they had to write a headline include a byline and make sure they reported the story with accuracy using facts such as the date, time and location of the event They also had to include a relevant quote to provide substance. Some of the articles included “Goldilocks, is locked...” (Goldilocks and the three bears) and “Woodcutter saves young girl!” (Red Riding Hood).

PIPERS CORNER SCHOOL

Pipers Lane Great Kingshill High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP15 6LP e: theschool@piperscorner.co.uk t: 01494 718255 www.piperscorner.co.uk www.facebook.com/PipersCornerSchool @PipersCornerSch